Trump trolls Macron over fuel tax U-turn

U.S. President Donald Trump slapped down his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the latter's fuel tax climbdown.

"I am glad that my friend @EmmanuelMacron and the protestors in Paris have agreed with the conclusion I reached two years ago," Trump tweeted Tuesday night. "The Paris Agreement is fatally flawed because it raises the price of energy for responsible countries while whitewashing some of the worst polluters."

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday announced a six-month suspension of the government's controversial fuel tax in response to weeks of violent protests by the Yellow Jackets movement. Climate skeptics have seized on the protests and the government's subsequent reversal to push back against action on climate change.

In November, Trump responded to Macron’s call for a “true European army” by writing: “Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two — How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!”

He also took a potshot at tariffs on French wine and Macron's low approval ratings, and followed with a call to "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!”

The French president parried back with a terse: “I do not do policy or diplomacy by tweets.”

I am glad that my friend @EmmanuelMacron and the protestors in Paris have agreed with the conclusion I reached two years ago. The Paris Agreement is fatally flawed because it raises the price of energy for responsible countries while whitewashing some of the worst polluters....

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Toby Jug

The EU is Like The Titanic Massive & Unsinkable They did not think they needed Life Boats
Well you the EU have hit an Ice berg We the UK are the little Life Boats
You did not need Drifting away, While you Sink
Trump is the EUs iceberg

Posted on 12/5/18 | 10:49 AM CET

lib crit

What a joke from the USA, the world’s biggest polluter, with its stupid SUVs and subsidized coal…

Posted on 12/5/18 | 10:56 AM CET

Michael Kuhns

@ lib crit

China emits 2x the CO2 emissions from the USA.

US has reduced emissions by an average of 1.2% per year from 2006 to 2016. UK has benn exceptional with a 3% average over this time period.

The perfect Germans, who always do the right thing for the world – their CO2 emissions increased last year, and average reduction 2006 to 2016 is 0.9%

A 1.2% decrease (like US) is 33% better than a 0.9% decrease, in case you are challenged by math.

Facts count, emotions don’t

Posted on 12/5/18 | 3:30 PM CET

Tony Browne

Libcrit

The us is not the worlds biggest emitter of co2 . That distinction goes to china who have been given a free rein until 2030